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Three Turkish construction companies supplied the Islamic State (ISIL) with materials worth millions of dollars used in the weaponization of drones, Turkish newspaper Birgün reported on Monday, citing a report by Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
The companies – Altun İnci, Elferah and Mavi Yelken – all founded by Syrian national granted Turkish citizenship, Ibrahim Hag Geneid, sold the materials to ISIS operatives, according to the MASAK 2021 report.
The jihadist organization then used the materials to create armed drones, the report, which details the assets of dozens of people authorities believe to be linked to ISIS, said.
ISIS is known for its drone program and used drones in Iraq and Syria for general intelligence-gathering, as spotters for mortar firing, in addition to filming propaganda videos.
Geneid maintained contact with Sajid Farooq Babar, known as an ISIS drone expert, who sent shipments to Syria through Turkey’s southern Mersin port and was killed by a U.S. strike in 2017, while being closely followed by Turkish intelligence, according to the report.
In 2013, Turkey declared ISIS a terrorist organization, sparking a string of deadly attacks from the group, which saw 315 people killed and hundreds injured.
While Ankara has been criticized over its commitment to combating ISIS, Turkish officials claim that Turkey has done more than any other country to combat the threat posed by the group.
ISIS continues to rely on “logistical hubs” inside Turkey for its finances, the U.S. Treasury said in January 2021.
In April of last year, Turkey granted citizenship to eight members of ISIS, whose assets were seized over terror links, according to Ankara Gazetecisi news website.
Source: Ahval
